HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: With our busy lives, our purses and wallets do get stolen or lost. And thieves are pros at using OPINION your credit cards and information to commit theft. When you realize that your purse or wallet is missing, HELOISE experts say

to act immediately and take these steps.

1. Report the theft to the police.

2. Cancel all credit cards and request replacements.

3. Call the fraud department of all major credit-reporting agencies to have them put a fraud alert on your account.

4. Contact your bank. You will likely need new checks and ATM cards.

5. Call your state’s department of motor vehicles to report your missing driver’s license and get a replacement.

DEAR HELOISE: I just discovered a couple of handmade quilts that have mildew on the backing. They’ve been folded up in a closet for who knows how long. They are 50-plus years old and are hand-stitched and not suitable for dry cleaning. Do you have any ideas? I would like to hang these quilts as wall hangings.

— Katherine, via email. DEAR READER: These are family treasures and look great displayed as wall hangings. Mildew is a common problem; here’s how to eliminate it. Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar, and dampen a sponge with this mixture. Lightly press the sponge onto the affected areas to kill the mildew. When the mildew is gone, air out the quilt.

Vinegar is an essential in every home. There are so many ways it can be used for cleaning, deodorizing and cooking.

DEAR HELOISE: Maybe I am the last person in the world to discover this, but some of your readers would like to know that it is a good idea to check your pet’s water bowl frequently. I always give it a glance to see if there needs to be more water added, but I don’t wash it every day. Yesterday, I picked it up to put fresh water in and noticed little wiggle tails (mosquito larvae) swimming around. We have had an unusual amount of mosquitoes this year, but I was not aware of any in the house, yet there they were. I looked it up, and it didn’t seem harmful, but who wants their pet drinking those? Love your column.

— Joyce Umfress, Bakersfield, Calif. DEAR READER: Lesson learned. It’s a good idea to clean your pet’s water and food bowls often. Dogs are messy, and the bowls do get dirty. So clean and add fresh water daily, if needed.